BitDefender Internet Security 2009

Version: 2008

very good, but scope for improvement

20-Apr-2008 03:45:32 AM
Reviewer: phil1961

Pros: i used zone alarm pro and avg version 7.5. i tried the new version 8 and found it to be a system and browsing and resource hogger on a par with norton, plus other unusual problems i wont go into here. (these were in my review for avg8 which mysteriously vanished) zone alarm pro is solid, but also slows boot times and uses a lot of resources. therefore i tried bitdefender internet security 2008.

the firewall is good, however there are few configuration options, for example, the icmp filtering could be made more customisable. however, having said this the firewall is solid enough for the majority of home users.

the antivirus is also solid and gives good protection, and there is antispy incorporated into this protection, however, i would recommend a second or third antispy app as no one product catches everything out there. (for this i would recommend ad-aware and spybot)

the antispam? well so far i have had none. whether this is down the bitdefender or just that no-one has sent me any i do not know, but to me antispam isnt that important, any idiot can simply press the delete key in their mail app

privacy control is best left at default. setting to high will give the user a mountain of alerts each webpage he visits. the options to put personal information you want to block is good. however, if you need to send any imformation you have stored in your personal info vault in bitdefender, you will need to disable privacy to do this, or the webpage is simply blocked. there could be some improvement here, for example, instead of blocking they would issue a warning window asking if you want to send that particular info to that website, and you could allow or deny as you see fit.

Cons: every program has its little annoying bugs. with me there is two. there is a little transparent window on the screen monitoring file and net zones. however i have to keep dragging and dropping them around the screen as they sometimes get in my way.

also the antiphishing toolbar keeps vanishing and i have to put it back using the tools/tolbars options in i/e7 options. plus there is no antiphishing cover on firefox, which to me seems totally stupid as more people seem to use firefox whan i/e. to spend so much time and effort to produce a good quality app, and then leave out the antiphishing cover on firefox seems a little slapdash. even norton cover firefox!. so bitdefender could improve on this too.

i will alert the reader to the fact my reviews seem to "vanish" after a short while. WHY IS THAT CNET??. i am a genuine home user and not some fake user review placed here by the software company trying to push its product. so had better read this before it vanishes!

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Replies from CNET users

warning!

22-Apr-2008 03:10:51 AM
Reviewer: phil1961

since i posted this review i have uninstalled it and asked for a refund. they boast they reply to all mails within 24 hours. i have not heard a word since. if you are thinking of buying bitdefender i recommend trying it first before you buy.

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